This project is expected to last three months, during Michaelmas term, to establish priorities for further development through 2022/23 and into future bids for major projects and an ESRC Centre / Leverhulme Centre / Leverhulme CDT bid (to be decided during development project and beyond).

As a short term development project it will included three core events (one per month in Michaelmas Term)
that is part of a longer term plan for advancing interdisciplinary research in this area within Durham.

Each event will be led by/organised by a different sub-group from the list of participants and will include lead academics from at least two departments, plus at least one PGR student.

1. Event 1 October 2022: Research discussion, research showcase and guest external speaker.
2. Event 2 November 2022: Sandpit-style interactive event to shape themes.
3. Event 3 December 2022: Research discussion, pulling together priorities, and guest external
   keynote speaker.

The activities will act as a catalyst within longer-term, larger-scale plans to build towards substantial funding bids that bring together academic researchers, non-academic partners, and experts by experience in the area of neurodiversity and specifically highlighting autism / the autistic community.

This project will enable

1. to begin working together as an interdisciplinary team to develop core thematic priorities for future
   dicussions/bids;
2. the possibility of future thematically-driven major project IAS funding bids;
3. interdisciplinary largescale external research proposals.

With regards to #3 funding targets such as a ESRC Centre, Leverhulme Centre or Leverhulme CDT bid (building on the PIs profile as DTP Director) have been identified. 

The current project is part of the gradual ‘building-up’ exercise to develop, refine, and strengthen the competitive position for such schemes.